Nature Reserve

The flat Cambridgeshire landscape opens up around this nature reserve east of Wisbech, where water and wetland dominate the view. You're here to spot birds, mainly - waders and wildfowl that use these shallow pools and reed beds as feeding grounds and stopping points on migration routes. Walking the perimeter or any designated paths reveals how much life depends on these unglamorous marshes. It's not dramatic scenery, but it works on you if you give it time.

Who gets the most from it? Birdwatchers and nature photographers will spend hours tracking species through binoculars. Family groups with older kids interested in wildlife do well here; younger ones might find the lack of facilities and the "just water and reeds" aesthetic a bit thin after 45 minutes. Keen walkers appreciate the flat, easy terrain and the sense of being away from roads.

The reserve is free to access, though opening hours and facilities aren't confirmed - worth checking locally in Wisbech before you go. Allow two to three hours if you're serious about it, or an hour for a quick circuit. Spring and autumn migrations deliver the best birdlife.

Stay at one of the nearby glamping spots - Glamping with Llamas is genuinely fun and only 1.7 miles away - and use the reserve as a morning or evening outing. Parklands Holidays (1.8 miles) works too if you prefer conventional caravan pitches. Neither park will feel like a backup option; both are strong enough to build a week around, especially with Norfolk's coast within reach.